Berkeley Optometry—A History Timeline

Period I (1907–1923): Establishing an Optometry Curriculum

1907	California Optometric Association establishes a committee to petition UC Regents for optometry course: George Schneider, Charles Wood, and Frederick Chinn meet with UC President Benjamin Wheeler; George Schneider also serves as the first Secretary of the Alameda County Society of Optometrists (forerunner of ACCCOS)
1910	George Schneider elected President of the California Association of Optometrists (forerunner of California Optometric Association)
1911	Associate Professor of Physics Ralph Minor lectures for first time before an optometric association (Alameda County Association of Optometrists): "Five Fundamental Phenomena of Light"
1911–12	George Schneider twice elected President of the American Optical Association (forerunner of American Optometric Association)
1912	Ralph Minor lectures before Alameda County optometrists: "The Radiometer"
1915	Ralph Minor gives a series of UC Extension lectures on elementary physics and optics (Bay Area optometrists attend lectures)
1917	Guest lecturer James P. C. Southall, Professor of Physics, Columbia University, presents during summer session the first course at the University describing physiology of vision and modern optical instruments
1919	Ralph Minor gives a University course (UC Extension) expressly for optometrists: "Optics as Applied to Optometry"
1919	Meeting between optometrists and the University Course Committee results in preliminary agreement on curriculum
1920	The University Course Committee submits curriculum proposal to the University Council
1920	The University Council recommends a curriculum in optometry to the Academic Senate and UC Regents
1922	George Schneider launches statewide fundraising campaign to finance the curriculum, raising $9,075 by the following year
1923	Legislation sponsored by California State Association of Optometrists would raise annual license renewal fee from $2 to $10, with $8 given in support of UC optometry program to fund curriculum
1923	Amended optometry law passes on May 23 with renewal fee increase for the Optometry program; University accepts previously rejected funds from California optometrists; UC Regents approve curriculum courses on July 12
1923	First curriculum in optometry begins August 17 (headed by Ralph Minor); George Schneider appointed first lecturer of optometry (part time); class and laboratory spaces allotted in third floor (attic) and basement of Le Conte Hall (Department of Physics); graduates will receive BS-Physics + Certificate in Optometry
1923	The Berkeley campus narrowly escapes widespread damage from a fire that devastates north Berkeley (September)

Period II (1924–1948): Curriculum Development and Independence

1924	Frederick Mason appointed first full-time lecturer in optometry; Milton Shutes, MD, becomes first physician (oculist) affiliated with Berkeley Optometry by teaching ocular pathology
1925	First graduates of Berkeley Optometry: Angus McLeod and Hartle Tallman (BS-Physics and Certificate in Opt.)
1926	Optometry Alumni Association holds informal meetings of alumni, students, and faculty
1929	Revised major results in a BS in Physics-Optometry and a Certificate in Optometry.
1931	First female graduate in optometry—Jennie Chai Louie (Mrs. Harry B. Mew)
1931	Optometry Alumni Association of UC writes first constitution and bylaws
1933	First optometry student organization (as a chapter of the Omega Delta National Fraternity of Optometrists)
1936	First Hispanic graduate: Julieta Arias [Burda]
1939	Optometry established as a department within College of Letters and Science; Ralph Minor named chair of department; two years of lower-division preprofessional followed by two years of upper-division professional program (graduates awarded BS-Opt + Certificate in Optometry)
1939	First African-American graduate—Marvin Poston
1939	Campaign for a separate optometry building begins
1941	UC Regents approve an independent curriculum separate from Department of Physics; School of Optometry established; Ralph Minor named Director
1941	Students disaffiliate from Omega Delta and establish the Associated Optometry Students of the University of California
1942	First graduating class to receive BS-Opt degrees
1943–46	Accelerated war-time program to offset shortage of optometrists; clinic first opens to general public (1943; previously "campus public" only)
1945	California Optometric Association Optometry Building Fund reaches fundraising goal of $80,000
1945	Ralph Minor named the first dean of Optometry; Minor introduces Berkeley's first contact lens course
1946	Ralph Minor retires; Kenneth Stoddard ('36) becomes the second dean of Berkeley Optometry
1946	Physiological Optics Graduate Research Program begins (conferring MS and PhD degrees)
1946–47	California optometrists contribute $80,000 for an optometry building; governor Earl Warren approves state funding of an additional $300,000
1947	Gordon Walls becomes the first full-time vision scientist (non-optometrist) to join the Berkeley Optometry faculty (January)
1948	Twenty-fifth anniversary year; optometry building (formerly Durant Hall) dedicated June 22 and renovations begin; first class of students (with junior-year standing) enrolled in expanded curriculum with MOpt degree after fifth (graduate) year

Period III (1949–1978): Advancing Optometry and Vision Science

1949	Partial occupancy and classes held in optometry building after Stage-I alterations; first year of full University financial support of optometry program (portion of state licensing renewal fees now directed toward "Optometry Research Fund"); first branch library for optometry opens
1950	First PhD graduate (Elwin Marg, '40) and first MS graduate (William Fleischman) in physiological optics
1951	First graduates of expanded curriculum (with fifth or graduate year) receive Master of Optometry (MOpt) degrees
1951	First annual optometry alumni reunion and continuing education program
1952	UC Regents approve the "Optometry Building" as the official name of former Durant Hall
1953	Stage-II renovations completed in Optometry Building (full occupancy and instruction); Meredith Morgan ('34) named the first Alumnus of the Year by the Optometry Alumni Association
1955	Alumni establish the first pre-paid vision care plan—California Vision Services (renamed Vision Service Plan in 1976)
1959	Meredith Morgan ('34) serves as Acting Chair of Berkeley Optometry during Dean Kenneth Stoddard's illness
1960	Meredith Morgan ('34) becomes third dean of Berkeley Optometry
1962	Henry Peters ('38) becomes first full-time director of clinics
1966	Admissions for new (expanded) four-year OD program; four MOpt graduates from 1965 complete optional additional year to become the first ODs from Berkeley OIptometry
1970	First graduating class to receive OD degrees (first independent optometry commencement); Optometry Building rededicated as Ralph S. Minor Hall
1971	Monroe Hirsch ('40) introduces the modular system for training and patient care in optometry clinic
1973	Fiftieth anniversary year; Monroe J. Hirsch ('40) becomes fourth dean of Berkeley Optometry
1976	Berkeley faculty play a pivotal role in persuading the state legislature to pass California's first DPA law
1976–77	Construction begins on Minor Addition (concurrent with fundraising campaign)
1977	Professor Robert Mandell becomes acting dean (1977–78) due to illness of Monroe Hirsch
1978	Monroe Hirsch retires as dean; Professor Irving Fatt becomes acting dean (1978–79)
1978	Minor Addition completed (dedicated October 22)
1978	Berkeley Optometry establishes its first off-campus affiliate residency training program (Kansas City VA)

Period IV (1979–2010): Modernizing Clinical Training and Vision Science

1979	Robert Mandell serves a second time as acting dean of Berkeley Optometry (1979–80)
1980	Jay Enoch becomes the fifth dean of Berkeley Optometry
1981	Infant-Toddler Vision Clinic Established
1983	Berkeley Optometry establishes its first on-campus, one-year residency training program for ODs
1985	Special Visual Assessment Clinic (SVAC) established for special-needs patients
1986–89	Inauguration of three significant CE programs: Meredith Morgan Symposium (1986); Morton Sarver Lecture Series (1987); Berkeley Practicum (1989)
1989	Students establish a Berkeley chapter of Voluntary Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)
1989	Change from Physiological Optics Graduate Program to Vision Science Graduate Program to reflect the multidisciplinary evolution of research
1992	Anthony Adams becomes sixth dean of Berkeley Optometry
1993	Minor Hall Expansion completed (renovation of second-level and addition of two more floors in Minor Hall); adjunct optometry eye clinic established in new Tang Center (University Health Services; building dedication April 21)
1995	Renovations completed in the Optometry Clinic (Minor Addition) Eye Wear Center (December)
1996	Berkeley faculty/alumni play pivotal roles in persuading the state legislature to pass California's first TPA law
1998	Seventy-fifth anniversary year (gala banquet June 13): optometry clinic dedicated as Meredith W. Morgan University Eye Center (May 23)
2001	Dennis Levi becomes seventh dean of Berkeley Optometry
2002	Optometry (OD) program requires bachelor's degree for admission
2002	Pamela and Kenneth Fong Optometry and Health Sciences Library opens (February 27)
2003	Optometry curriculum becomes part of UC Berkeley graduate division